circuit
ideas
Flasher For Deepawali
 Sunil Kumar
H
ere is the circuit for a port-
able electric lamp-cum-LED
flasher. It uses a 25W, 230V
AC bulb and nine LEDs. When the
bulb glows all the LEDs remain ‘off,’
and when the LEDs glow the bulb
remains ‘off.’
The circuit is built around timer IC
555 (IC1), which is wired as an astable
multivibrator generating square wave.
w w w. e f y m ag . co m
The output of IC1 drives transistor T1.
Working of the circuit is simple.
When output pin 3 of IC1 goes high,
transistor T1 conducts to fire triac1
and the bulb glows. Bulb L1 turns off
when output pin 3 of IC1 goes low.
The collector of transistor T1 is con-
nected to anodes of all the LEDs (LED1
through LED9). So when T1 is cut-off
the LEDs glow, and when T1 conducts
the LEDs go off. Current-limiting resis-
tor R4 protects the LEDs from higher
e l e c t ro n i c s f o r yo u • N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 0 • 1 1 5
s.c. dwiv
edi
currents.
In brief, the bulb and the LEDs
flash alternately depending on the
frequency of IC1. Flashing rates of the
bulb as well as LEDs can be varied by
adjusting potmeter VR1. Connect the
power supply line (L) of mains to bulb
L1 via switch S1 and neutral (N) to
MT1 terminal of triac1.
A 12V, 200mA AC adaptor is
used to power the circuit. Using
switch S1, you can switch off the
bulb permanently if you do not
want it to flash.
Assemble the circuit on a
general-purpose PCB and en-
close in a circular plastic cabinet
keeping the bulb at the centre
and LEDs at the circumference.
Drill holes for mounting the
‘on’/‘off’ switch. Use a bulb
holder for bulb L1 and LED
holders for the LEDs. Also use
an IC socket for timer IC 555.
Warning. While assembling,
testing or repairing, take care to
avoid the lethal electric shock. 